One woman became ill and other Hudson County residents were turned away from the Hudson County Plaza this morning because of the unbearable heat in parts of the building, officials said.

Some air-conditioning units at the steamy, seven-story building broke down Monday and county employees there were sent home early Tuesday.

Officials expected the AC to be and fully operational this morning, but workers there found out differently the moment they stepped into the building.

"It's suffocating in there, even worse than Monday and Tuesday," said one employee, who did not want to be identified.

The building, at 257 Cornelison Ave. in Jersey City, houses a number of county offices, including the Department of Family Services, Sheriff's Office, Superintendant of Elections, Division of Community Development and the Board of Taxation.

Some employees said the portion of the building where Department of Family Services is located has not had air conditioning since June 25. County spokesman Jim Kennelly said that the county did not receive any complaints about the air-conditioning until Monday.

"This is ridiculous," said Frances Cintron, president of Local 2306 Welfare Workers. "(It) should have been fixed today."

A woman inside the building was treated by Jersey City EMS staff and workers at the building said she had fainted from the stifling conditions inside.

Customers waiting to see representatives in Family Services were told to leave around 10:30, because of the heat inside.

"They have a big fan, nothing else," said a woman who declined to give her name. She and her 8-year-old son had been standing inside for hours, and she eventually got fed up and left.

"It's too much in there," said the woman.

After putting up with the steamy conditions while they waited for a few hours, some customers were angry at the news no more people would be seen today.

"They should have turned people (showing up after 10:30) away, but not close," said Rosa Morales of Kearny.

Shaun Watson, of Jersey City, waited in line two hours when he was told to leave..
"It's been open all this time," he said, referring to building being open without air conditioning for over a week. "Why shut it down now?"

Ray Rodriguez, an employee of the Family Services who works behind the glass window near the entrance, said the conditions have been bad back there.

"(There's) no window, no AC, we're both sweating," he said referring to a colleague.